Koehlers in Manitowoc, Wisconsin

An autobiography by C. Philipp Koehler translated by Marcus Koch

A Call to Manitowoc

This call came from the Evangelical Lutheran congregation in Manitowoc, where in 1856 they had had opportunity to see and hear me at the synod meeting there. At the special request of the congregation, I journeyed to Manitowoc in order to confer with them personally concerning the acceptance of their call. I allowed myself to be persuaded to accept the call without saying anything about it to the congregations I was serving at the time. It was only after old Pastor Muehlhaeuser called it to my attention that I realized what I had neglected to do.

I was very sorry about it, the more so since I had reason to fear that the congregations would hold it against me that I had taken this step behind their back. But things did not turn out as badly as I had feared. Only one congregation was wrought up that I should forsake them. It was the congregation which had provided us with a house that fall. Because the storm in the congregation was so intense that I feared I would not get away with my skin intact, I asked my old friend, Pastor Muehlhaeuser, to come on the Sunday when I was to take my leave. He succeeded in pacifying the congregation by speaking to them after my farewell sermon so that they let me go in peace.

The other three congregations had enough sense not to give me the slap on the cheek they had intended, but rather gave me their approval that I now had a call to a place which would not be so fatiguing and burdensome to me. Our possessions were transported on two wagons which the Manitowoc congregation had furnished. With my wife and children, however, I traveled to Manitowoc via Milwaukee [by ship].

We arrived there in September 1858 and were welcomed at the landing place by the trustees. They led us to the parsonage where we found the table laden with a festive meal. After our previous rather shabby farewell, this friend and considerate welcome warmed our hearts. I was installed the following Sunday by my friend, Pastor [Philipp] Sprengling.

In Manitowoc I found a beautiful church with a tower and a well-built two-story parsonage which had a special schoolroom in one wing. How fortunate we were that we could at last live in a decent house and that I could administer my office in a well arranged church! Another thing that made it nice was that the parsonage was situated on a beautiful street near the lakeshore. At that time we did not suspect that our proximity to Lake Michigan would prove to be ominous for us. It did not take long to discover that my new congregation was a pathetic outfit and that it suffered from weaknesses that portended ill for the future. Many abuses had crept in unawares, making themselves right at home in the congregation.

Holding the Line

I had been in Manitowoc only a few weeks when I once again had to go on the war path. It was not the Methodists or enthusiasts whom I had to rebuff and fight this time but the secret organizations. I discovered that five members of the congregation belonged to the Sons of Hermann. I felt that I must not procrastinate in this matter. I at once proceeded to purge the congregation of these tares. With God's gracious help I succeeded in getting three of these men to sever their ties with the secret organization. The other two, however, left the congregation. One chose to remain with the society; the other moved out of town. Upon my recommendation, the congregation at once placed a ban on secret societies. In the future no member of a secret society could become a member of the congregation.

This was a relatively quick and victorious battle. Those who were vanquished, however, could not so soon forget their defeat. For a long time afterward they took their anger out on us, especially on me, by all manner of harassments, but finally they concluded that they could gain nothing with this approach and that their reentry into the congregation was barred for all time. In order, however, to counteract more successfully the misleading activity of the secret societies, I, at the request of some of the members of the congregation, founded a society for the care of the sick within the congregation. I was careful to give it a thoroughly Christian constitution, one which could not be challenged on the basis of the Word of God.

The solution to this problem did not come easily because I had to oppose all manner of unchristian points of view which were voiced against me. My concern for the [congregational] society was that it be guided only by the true, merciful, helping hand of love, but on this point I was confronted with vehement resistance, selfishness, and avarice. The society, nonetheless, became a happy reality and grew so rapidly that I soon feared that it would mushroom over both me and my congregation, but I was able to keep it within bounds.

The work of the kingdom of God, however, never proceeds anywhere without controversy. As it was of old at the rebuilding of Jerusalem where the work went forward with one hand and a weapon at the ready in the other, so it was here in Manitowoc. No sooner was the first controversy laid to rest than I had to stand up against unionism which, like leaven, had permeated the entire congregation. To purge the congregation of this leaven was not as easy. Unfortunately, my predecessor had come under the influence of a prominent Reformed family in Manitowoc and had accordingly carried on his ministry in a unionistic spirit. When I arrived in Manitowoc, the congregation, it is true, did bear the name "Lutheran," but several Reformed families in the congregation claimed that it had been founded as a united [evangelical] congregation, and that, therefore, it was no more than just and equitable that they have the same rights as the Lutherans in the congregation.

The Reformed were unusually friendly and accommodating towards me because they wanted to pull me over to their side. One old man, experienced in Christianity and strictly Reformed, who defended the Calvinistic doctrine of election with spirit and was well-versed not only in Reformed doctrine but better versed in Luther's writings than I dared claim at the time, made special efforts to win me over, visiting me frequently for that purpose. Not only that, but this man was held in high esteem by the members of the congregation because he had been very active at the founding of the congregation, at the building of the church and parsonage, and very generous in his contributions.

The loyal members of the congregation were mostly of Lutheran persuasion. As they were oft wont to say, they were unwilling to yield anything pertaining to their faith. They were, however, weak in understanding and inexperienced as children in the Word. They were, therefore, of no help to me in this pressing situation. They also feared that, were we to be unwilling to yield to the Reformed, the latter would withdraw their contributions. It would then become too much for them alone to raise the necessary funds for my support. This made my position exceedingly difficult. The dear Lord, however, stood by me so that I did not surrender my Lutheran position, and this had the blessed result that I became more firmly grounded in the teachings of Luther.

Nor could I expect support or even an encouraging gesture from the direction of the synod, for even though it, too, bore the name "Lutheran," it did not want to be definitely Lutheran, but rather tolerated unionisitic and Reformed elements.

I succeeded nonetheless in having the congregation incorporate itself as a Lutheran congregation committed to the Lutheran Confessions. After that, it was self-evident that the preaching of the Word of God, the religious instruction of the young, and the administration of the holy sacraments were to be carried out in Lutheran manner and spirit. Only those were eligible to hold membership in the congregation who were willing to confess not only the holy Scriptures but also the Confession of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. This, of course, did not please the Reformed people. For one thing they considered this an injustice, and there was no lack of bitter accusations.

But they relented and once more came to the services. They were to some extent my most attentive and devoted listeners and contributors. They were also very favorably disposed toward me and my family, demonstrating this by deeds as well as by words. Still, they did not consider us exclusively Lutheran because the inside of our church was very plain, without decoration, with neither a crucifix nor candelabra on our altar. They comforted themselves with this, and I let them have that comfort. I did not agitate that such things be placed in our church, nor did I consider the lack of them a denial of the Lutheran position. Two Reformed families even asked me to meet with them weekly in order to study the Word of God. I did so and suggested that we begin with Paul's letter to the Galatians. But when we came to Galatians 5:4 [You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace], then the spirits clashed, for in this passage the real and deep cleft between Reformed and Lutheran doctrine became apparent. My Reformed friends did not want to acknowledge that a Christian could fall from grace, even though it is so stated plainly in this passage. We had to discontinue our meetings, but we had become the richer for it because of this one distasteful experience.

Finally, it got to the point where the Reformed no longer attended our church. This was precipitated by a specific incident. Some of the women of the congregation had collected some money for the purpose of decorating the altar. With this money they had acquired, among other things, a beautiful crucifix and two candlesticks. When the Reformed saw these things on the altar, they took offense and never came again, surmising that this had been done in order to drive them out of the church (which was, of course, no more than an evil surmising).

Managing Congregational Growth

My dealings with the Reformed were now over. The controversy over unionism had been fought through to a sucessful conclusion. Yet I could not now say that we had peace and were free from danger. In my small country congregations I had previously experienced that a union with the godless world was no less dangerous for a Christian congregation. It was to be feared all the more in a city like Manitowoc that the spirit and lifestyle of the world would find its way into the congregation and eventually take over if it were not warded off in good time.

When I came, I found the congregation saturated with worldliness. Most of the members were dependent on the children of the world in that they were employed by them. They did not want to spoil their relation with the world, drawing down its hatred upon themselves. Neither were they willing to forsake the ways of the ungodly and the lusts of the world. They did not consider it unchristian to have fun after the manner of the world, to serve its idols (the lust of the eyes, the flesh, and the high and mighty life).

The congregation was also afflicted with a mania for growth. Therefore, when new members were to be accepted, they did not care to scrutinize the goods too carefully but were anxious without further ado to accept anything which came running our way in order that the crowd might become large and powerful. Under such circumstances it was most difficult to introduce orderly church discipline and carry through on it according to God's Word. For a long time I had to be satisfied with chastising the worldly way of life and its driving spirit from the pulpit as well as when confronted with it from day to day. The result, of course, was that I called down upon myself the hatred of the world.

The desired fruit, however, in the congregation was not altogether wanting. Many were disobedient, and I had to carry on my ministry with groaning, lamenting, "But who believes our sermons, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?" [Is 53:1] Others, however, had their eyes opened, and they went out from the Babel of the world, being converted to the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls.

Aside from these controversies there was much strenuous work to do in Manitowoc. Besides the regular duties of my office, I had to teach school for eight years. This became a heavy burden on me. Finally, in the ninth year of my work in Manitowoc, the congregation built a large school and called two teachers. Those two teachers, however, made my life more miserable than the children had in all the eight previous years.

I had to preach at two other places: Neshotah and the Tannery side of Two Rivers. Sometimes I made missionary trips to Kewaunee and Door County, where I looked up scattered brethren in the faith, serving them with Word and sacrament. For a long time I also served the congregation in Reedsville as a subcharge of Manitowoc. It also sometimes happened that I had to hurry to the aid of neighboring congregations when they were in some need or when quarrels were disrupting them. Twice I had to take part in deposing ministers who had been exposed as scoundrels so that they might cause no further harm. I had to bring back another one who had secretly left his congregation and persuade the congregation to take him back. Another one who seemed unable to inspire confidence in his person I hosted in my house for months in order to get to know him better. I had to prepare two young men who wanted to become ministers to enter the seminary. A synod meeting which convened in Manitowoc also caused much work (as well as displeasure). I was secretary of the synod at that time and had to sacrifice much precious time for synod affairs. In addition, there were always the sick to be visited and other who had to be admonished and rebuked.

Although my work in the ministry was very imperfect and left much to be desired, the dear Lord did do something with it. Out of the weak and tender plant set in the sand a stately tree developed, for the congregation grew and became so large that when I left, it numbered over 200 families. The Lord also blessed my work in the school. No other school in Manitowoc was as well attended as ours. By the time I was relieved of the school work, we had 250 children who could then be assigned to two classes and instructed by two teachers.

The services were well attended, and the Word preached in the sermons did not come back empty. I had active and energetic men at my side in the board of trustees on whose support I could depend. In the life of the congregation, too, the fruits of faith became evident. A small neighboring congregation, served by a Missouri Synod pastor, in the course of time became increasingly confident of me and my congregation, finally joining us. Although our synods were at that time at odds with each other, yet the Missourians made no attempt to woo their members away from us again. Even the Methodists did not dare grub in my congregation but were forced to admit that the souls in our church were being led into the right pasture and were leading a God-pleasing life. The unbelieving world, too, could not withhold its respect for my congregation.

Crosses to Carry

Here I must relate a strange happening. It was during the first years of my struggle and labor in Manitowoc. One day a rumor made its way around Milwaukee that I had died suddenly. It came out later that the rumor had started in one of my previous congregations and from there had made its way to Milwaukee. My old friend Muehlhaeuser had been told that I had been stricken in the pulpit on a Sunday morning. He took the rumor at face value and the next Sunday, visibly shaken and with tears in his eyes, he informed his congregation of my death, saying that I had fallen like a soldier in battle. Pastor Streissguth said the same thing over at St. John's congregation (Milwaukee). The same Sunday a memorial service was conducted at Grace Church, and no one mourned my death more than the preacher, my old friend, Muehlhaeuser.

We first learned of this a few days later by means of letters which arrived from Milwaukee. We were, of course, quite surprised at the tidings, especially so because at that time I was enjoying good health and stood battle-ready on the plain. I at once notified my good friend via letter that I was still alive and thanked him for the concern he had shown. Shortly after I had opportunity to appear in the pulpit at Grace Church. My inquiries never revealed how the rumor got started.

For me, however, this odd event seemed a foreboding of death which would soon, according to God's will, lead me out of this life into eternity. For some time I carried serious and anxious thoughts of death around with me, and the question as to whether I was prepared for a blessed death haunted me. This caused me much worry and anxiety. Others, however, prophesied that because of this event I would have a long life. This latter prophecy made me glad because there was so much I still wanted to accomplish in the kingdom of God.

Thoughh I know lived in the glorious land of America, as my old friend always referred to it, I had not as yet come to feel at home here and accept this country as my second fatherland. I had kept in contact with the old fatherland and desired to remain an alien in this land. The political conditions nauseated me. Social conditions seemed pitiful, and affairs in the church were by no means to my liking. Yet I was at the same time impelled by a strong desire for battle and labor (Kampfes und Arbeitlust), and there was still much I hoped to accomplish in this alien land. Indeed, in my immediate field of labor there remained much work to do and many battles to fight, and in my heart of hearts there lurked the idea that this could be done by no one better than me.

But the Lord our God had also amply provided for conditions which would keep my heart humble that it not overreach itself. The entire nine years we lived in Manitowoc were for me and my family a stime of suffering as one visitation followed another. During the first years, my small salary forced us to maintain a frugal household. We were not spared many a worry as to where our daily bread would come from. Not a little of the meager salary which the congregation gave me was lost since it was a period when bank failures were a daily occurence and currency (paper gold) was rendered worthless.

It was also at this time that the Civil War was taking place, a restless, terrible time. I almost happened that I, too, had to leave my family and go off to war. Many Americans as well as Germans were overjoyed when I was drafted. It was on a Sunday morning just before services that I was informed by a uniformed officer that at a set time I would have to report to the draft board in Green Bay. My congregation, however, at once gave me $300 to buy my freedom. Since, however, I could prove through the Prussian consulate in Milwaukee that I was still a subject of Prussia, I did not need to use the money and could stay at home.

It was at that time also that we spent a day and a night in abject fear of attack by an Indian horde. One evening while we were assembled in church the rumor spread that the Indians were on their way to cut down the citizens of Manitowoc and burn the city. It still makes me tremble when I think of that terrible night when all Manitowoc quaked and moaned. Before long we discovered that it was no more than a rumor.

We were also visited by serious illness and two deaths. Of the five children which were born to us in Manitowoc, the two youngest died in the first year of their lives. That the others lived still seems like a miracle to me because all were repeatedly near death. My wife also suffered a long time from a serious illness. Because of a stubborn throat condition I could not preach for a long time and believed that never again would I mount a pulpit. We could not tolerate the sharp lake air and were constantly in need of a doctor's services. For that reason the doctor advised us often to leave Manitowoc, but I could not bring myself to accept this advice even though I had received various calls which were quite acceptable.

There were in the congregation some very evil people who seemed to make it their business to make life mierable for me. Among these was an evil-minded old schoolteacher whose thanks to me for providing him with a position was to blacken my name and to rile up the congregation against me. He did not succeed in this, however, but only made his continuing presence in the congregaiton impossible. These bitter and scandalous experiences, however, finally caused me to decide to follow the doctor's advice. At the time I had no other call at hand and did not know where to go. Yet, with the consent of the congregation, I resigned my office in Manitowoc and looked about for another field of labor.